October 



iS88.] 



Garden and Forest. 



379 



Ordinarily, artificial heat will not be needed in the house 

 until the nights become cold enou!i;h to freeze or during cold, 

 rainy weather, when a little heat will be found useful in drying 

 the air. Arthur H. Fewkes. 



Gleichenias 



GOOD examples of the various species of this lovely genus 

 of Ferns are not so often seen as they should be, owing 

 ill part to the limited stock of some of the species, and con- 

 sequent high price, and in part to the fact that some difficulty 

 has been encountered by amateur cultivators in persuading 

 them to make a strong and healthy growth. When given 

 proper treatment they soon make e.xquisite specimens, and 

 wear a more aristocratic air, so to speak, than almost any 

 other class of Ferns, with the possible exception of some of 

 the monarchs of the family, such as the Cibotiums, Alsophi- 

 las and Dicksonias. As to what this best treatment should 

 be, there is, perhaps, some difference of opinion, but I will 

 venture to give in outline a treatment which has proved rea- 



Gleichenias do not like to have their roots disturbed after the 

 new growth begins. The propagation of this interesting 

 genus is attended with some little difficulty, because most of 

 the species do not produce spores in t^uantity, and, therefore, 

 division of the rhizomes is the plan adopted to increase the 

 stock, an opei'ation that should be carefully done, so that each 

 piece has as much root as possible attached, else it will he 

 found hard to establish them. As to the best sorts to grow, 

 it may be said that they all are beautiful, but the following are 

 among the most free in habit and easiest to manage: G.flab- 

 hellata, a strong-stemmed and large-fronded species from 

 Australia ; G. dickotoiiia, a charming companion plant for the 

 above, its light green pinnte making a good contrast with the 

 darker tints of its neighbor. Among the finergrowing species 

 G. dicarpa is, perhaps, the best, closely followed, however, in 

 points of beauty, by G. Spehoiccc, both of the last named lieiiig 

 natives of Tasmania, and all the sorts mentioned are best 

 grown in a cool house, where they will make a much 

 stronger growth, and are not so likely to become infested with 

 insects. 



A View ill Central Park, Wimieapulis. — See page 374. 



sonably successful. The soil should be rather coarse and 

 composed of good turfy loam and fibrous peat in about equal 

 proportions, with about one-sixth of coarse sand, A little 

 iiroken charcoal is a desirable addition to the soil, as it tends 

 to keep it in a more wholesome condition. The Gleichenias 

 being naturally shallow rooters, it is better to grow them in 

 pans than in pots, and, in either case, to give them plentv of 

 drainage, as their roots rarely go deeper than four or five 

 inches below the surface. Good drainage is essential, for, 

 though they like an abundance of water when in full growth, 

 yet they are very impatient of any stagnant moisture at the 

 root. A light syringing over the foliage should be given early 

 in the day, and is beneficial during dry, hot weather, helping 

 to keep the plant clear of thrips. In regard to temperature, 

 the mistake is often made of keeping them (the Gleichenias) 

 too warm, a night temperature of 45° to 50° being quite 

 warm enough for most of the species during the winter sea- 

 son, and in summer they should be kept as cool as possible 

 by shading and plenty of ventilation. The best time to give 

 them a shift in pots is early in the spring, before the growth 

 commences, as, in common with a majority of Ferns, the 



This list may be extended considerably, but the species 

 named are among the most satisfactory. IV. H. Tapliii. 



Orchid Notes, — Odontoglossum Raozlii. — This handsome 

 Orchid is very similar in hal)it to the beautiful O. vexilla- 

 rium, having longer lanceolate foliage of a much lighter 

 green. It should be grown in a much warmer temperature 

 than the last named species, the warmest end of the Cattleya 

 house with abundant moisture suiting it to perfection. The 

 plants, during growth, require every attention, as thrips 

 often attack them, and when they once infest the Orchid it is 

 difficult to dislodge them. Frequent syringings and dippings 

 once a month in a weak solution of soot and tobacco water, 

 will usually keep the plants free from this pest. When well 

 grown this Odontoglossum will produce its flowers twice a 

 year. These fiowers are borne on erect scapes, three to five 

 in number, during the months of March and April, and re- 

 main in perfection a long time. 



Angrircuin Lcoini.—TVixs is a native of the Comoro Islands, 

 near Madagascar, and was introduced by M. Leon Humlilot, 

 who has already enriched our collections with many choice 



